Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. I also have no claim on any pop culture references that I may use throughout my writings. I only own my OCs. Enjoy the read.

0o0o0

[314]

0o0o0 THEN 0o0o0

"Why is it that every pharmacy you decide to pick up shit we don't need?" The blonde asked her brother-in-law. "Like the kind that's gonna get you higher than a kite?"

"It's all about livin' large, Bella," Merle said, loading his bag with bottles that she was sure wouldn't be helpful to her and Daryl. "The world is my oyster, and I can do whatever the fuck I want."

Isabell rolled her eyes. "Sure, but you do realize that Daryl and I are the ones who have to tote your ass around the dead when you can't see straight." She opened her drawstring pack to start filling it with what little was left in the near-empty pharmacy. There weren't many places left. Thankfully for the Dixons, they survived in the deepest parts of Georgia, where populations were far lower than anywhere else in the area.

"That's what family's for, innit?"

"Sure," She scoffed. "That's what it's for." Though, Isabell knew that it wasn't. Family was supposed to be there for each other, but not the way Merle expected of her and Daryl. Isabell was still silently mourning the loss of her child. Garrett and Harley had never showed up at their country home, and they had to move on when the people eaters overran their land. Isabell had lost her home and her baby all in a week.

It felt even worse for her because Daryl was around his brother again, permanently, it seemed. When Daryl was around Merle, he was different and less open about his feelings. From the outside, it seemed like Daryl had wholly forgotten they even had a child.

Isabell knew Harley was real. She was twelve years old. She looked like her daddy. Harley loved making pancakes for dinner and taking naps with her mom. Isabell wouldn't ever forget her daughter. She couldn't, but she knew she needed help keeping Harley's memory alive.

Daryl was unresponsive in that aspect. Maybe Isabell should have blamed herself. She was the first one who closed off. Isabell insisted that the child they'd found in her brother's house was hers. How would she have been able to go on thinking any other way?

"Psst!" Merle whispered.

Isabell's head jerked up, finding her brother-in-law, who didn't actually know he was her brother-in-law.

Merle jerked his head past her.

Isabell followed his sight to the windows leading outside of the pharmacy. A few of the dead ones started to gather outside with the noise they created. "Shit. You got what you need?" Isabell asked, stuffing the last bandages she found in her own bag before closing it tight.

Merle closed his backpack with a nod, grabbing his machete. "Let's go."

Isabell pulled the hunter's knife off her belt and wrapped the bag around her arms. "Out the back," she said, gesturing with her weapon. She led the way to the back door. When she tried to open it, though, it wouldn't budge. Isabell groaned. She grabbed the handle and pushed on it hard with her shoulder. "Ah, fuck!" Isabell said, reaching up to her shoulder. "That hurt."

"Move over, sister."

Isabell happily got out of the bigger man's way and watched as Merle was able to get the door open with barely any effort.

Merle smirked. "How's that one?"

Isabell rolled her eyes.

Merle pushed the door the rest of the way, revealing what was holding them up. Too many of the dead in the back alley of the strip of stores. "Shit!" Merle whispered, trying to close the door back up, but it was too late. A few of the dead had already worked the limbs inside. With how many of them were out in the alley, they were stronger than Merle and Isabell.

"Merle, we gotta go!" She shouted over the snarls of the dead, putting all of her strength on the giant metal door.

Merle looked around the room. There was nothing to keep the door as closed as it was. "Fuck. Alright. On three?" He asked, looking down at Isabell getting a nod. "One. Two." Without making it to three, Merle took off.

Isabell stumbled with the new weight of the door. She caught herself quickly, breaking into a run after Merle. "What the fuck, Merle?" Isabell shouted after him. She stabbed a few of the dead that had made their way into the front door after Merle left it. Isabell heard the faint raspy laugh that she knew belonged to Merle. She just needed to get to the alley across the street and make it over the brick wall.

Too many of the dead kept getting in her way. With Isabell in the street and the noise they'd created, they had drawn all of the ones from the back to gather around her. She was panicking. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," Isabell said to herself. Merle was nowhere in sight. Isabell wouldn't be able to get up the wall without him. There wasn't another path up the steep hill for almost a mile down the road. "Merle!" She turned in her spot in the middle of the road, taking out a geek that got too close.

"Bella?"

Isabell looked up at the wall she'd jumped from earlier to find him there. She sighed in relief, but her relief was short-lived when the dead came down the alleyway she was supposed to go down.

Merle waved her along, crouching and holding a hand to her. "C'mon, Bella, you can make it."

Isabell huffed confidently as she stuck her knife into the skull of a dead one who'd been able to catch up with her. She started running for the alley, grabbing a walker by the shoulder and stabbing him up through his jaw. Another came upon her, and she had to grab him by both arms to keep him at a distance. She struggled to keep him away from her. "Merle, fire!"

"Risk hittin' you to drag more over?" Merle questioned. "Nah, Bella, you got it."

Isabell grunted against the struggle. "Just fire the damn gun," she said between her teeth. Isabell stepped backward but lost her footing, and the dead one pushed her into a door. She screamed when she went right through, falling to the ground. Isabell let out another shout of pain as her back hit the tile floor with a walker on top of her. "Merle!" Isabell shouted for him, but there was no response. She took in a deep breath, trying to fight with her surge of adrenaline. Isabell rolled her and the walker over, picking it up and slamming it back to the ground, making its head crack open. She groaned when it became immobile and picked herself up off the ground. Isabell made her way to the door to find Merle had left, and she was surrounded by the dead. "Fuck!" She closed the door with her inside quickly, barricading it with a nearby wooden desk. Isabell let out a sigh. "Fuck."

0o0o0 Now 0o0o0

Isabell wasn't ready for the day. It was getting closer and closer to not knowing what was going to happen with the Governor. Rick had been secretive about what was happening during his conversation with the Governor. Though, Isabell knew it was something big. While Isabell observed everyone the morning a couple of days after that meeting, Rick looked antsy. The sheriff was trying to make himself look busy by checking over the weapons repeatedly, but Isabell could tell that he wasn't doing anything.

Isabell sighed. She'd been sitting on the upper level of the prison in the central area, staring down at the tables. Her legs dangled over the edge, and her arms rested on the metal railing, holding her chin. She felt the footsteps before she heard them and knew immediately it was Daryl approaching her. Quiet hunter's feet.

Daryl sat next to her, copying her position. "Yer brain's boilin', Izzy."

Isabell glanced at him before looking back down at the others below her.

"What's got you so torn up?"

Isabell shook her head, eyes catching Merle as he busied himself with his bowl of oatmeal alone in the holding cell he'd claimed as his room. "Do you think he misses her?"

Daryl caught her line of sight, spotting his brother.

"They were close. That's gotta mean somethin', right?" she asked, turning to Daryl.

Daryl shrugged. "I'm sure he does. In his own way. Why?"

Isabell raised her shoulder. "Was talking to him about her before you came back the other day. It was the third time that I mentioned her, and each one, he couldn't even look at me. He's gotta feel somethin'. Even if it's hate towards me because he blames me for it." Isabell furrowed her brow. "You don't think that's why he left me for dead, do you?"

Daryl scoffed a quick laugh and shook his head. "Yer just bein' crazy."

"I'm serious."

"He's an asshole, but he's not devious."

Isabell pursed her lips. "You know, if he were just a little bit more like how he was with her, he'd probably make it here."

"Harley was his blood. And these people ain't. It's different the way he sees it."

"I guess." Isabell looked down at the others below her, catching Rick.

Rick gestured his head towards the courtyard outside, looking between her and Daryl.

Isabell slapped Daryl's arm lightly with the back of her hand.

"Yeah, I see it. C'mon." He got up and helped Isabell up. They casually walked outside and followed Rick towards the fence line, where Hershel stood alone.

"What's goin' on, Rick?" Isabell asked as they approached.

"Got somethin' I wanna talk to y'all about. Somethin' important."

Isabell stood, crossing her arms over her chest. "Everything okay?" She looked over at Daryl, who seemed curious, though less likely to badger it out of Rick.

"I haven't been completely honest about what happened with the Governor." Rick took a deep breath and let it out, shaking his head. "He gave me a way out. A way, so no one here has to fight."

The blonde furrowed her brow, looking at Hershel as the older man looked down at his feet guiltily.

"He wants Michonne."

"What?" Isabell exclaimed before backing down, eyes catching the walker on the other side of the chainlink. "You're jokin', right?"

Rick shook his head again. "He'll take her in place of the prison."

"Oh, my shit." Isabell covered her mouth with her fingertips.

Rick looked Daryl in the eye. "It's the only way. No one else knows."

"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked.

"Well, they'll certainly wonder about her when she suddenly disappears." Isabell spat.

"Isabell…"

"What?" She asked incredulously.

"I'll tell them. After." Rick waivered on his feet. "We have to do it today. It has to be quiet."

Daryl bit his bottom lip. "You got a plan?"

"We tell her we need to talk. Away from the others."

"Wait, hold on. We're not even gonna talk about this?" Isabell shook her head, looking between all three men. "We can't do this."

"We've got to."

"How does doin' this make us any different from him?"

"He said he'll back down," Rick assured. "He'll leave us the prison."

"And if he doesn't?" Isabell questioned accusingly. "You are all batshit crazy if you think that this asshole will drop it because you hand him over one innocent woman."

"Isabell -" Daryl said, reaching for her to try and calm her.

Isabell took a quick step away from her. "I swear if you 'Isabell' me one more time…" She didn't finish the sentence, and she didn't have to. "Michonne has more than earned her place here. She's helped save your daughter's life." Isabell said to Hershel before looking at Rick. "She saved Judith's life. And you're just like, 'Nah, man; she's worth it to not fight for what we have.'" Isabell shook her head. "This is ridiculous that we're even thinkin' about it."

Daryl studied Isabell before nodding. Just ain't us, man."

"No, no, it isn't." Hershel didn't want to do this. Sensing the tension in the conversation, he walked away, heading back inside.

Rick stepped closer to Isabell and Daryl. "We do this; we avoid a fight. No one else dies."

"There's not a damn person in there who isn't willing to fight for what we have," Isabell insisted, pointing towards the prison.

Daryl glanced at Isabell for a moment before looking back at Rick. He nodded. "Okay."

Isabell scoffed. "You're not serious."

Rick looked back at Daryl, looking like he would regret what he was going to say. "We need someone else."

"I'll talk to him," Daryl said.

"I'll do it." Rick countered.

"I'll go with you."

"No, just me." Rick's eyes flitted to Isabell. "We gotta do it. I don't like it. But I can't risk anyone else's life."

"But you'll risk hers?" Isabell raised a brow.

Rick let out a quick breath and looked away from her. "I'm sorry," he said before leaving.

0o0o0

Not even an hour had passed, and the group had created a better defense system for the prison's grassy lawn. Michonne's idea was to put barbed-wired spikes down on the driveway to slow down any potential threat that would burst through the gates again. Of course, it being Michonne's idea made Isabell feel worse about what Rick was making them do. She still followed through with the ideas.

Isabell didn't trust that the governor would live up to his promise to leave the prison alone. Even if they went through with giving Michonne up, there would likely be another attack on the prison. It killed Isabell to know what she did and not be able to say anything to the other woman. She wanted to, but she knew that it would worsen things. Isabell had grown close with Michonne, at least as close as the other would allow. They had plenty enough in common.

Isabell had taken over, watching the courtyard for any sign of an early attack. She sat on the bleachers watching walkers build up on the fence. Isabell's attention drew to the prison door as it opened behind her. She smiled as Daryl made his way down the stairs and sat next to her. "Where've you been?"

"Talkin' with Glenn. And Merle."

"Yeah? Is he going to help Rick?"

"Yeah. He's got somethin' in the empty cell block," Daryl said, gesturing behind him. "He's also lookin' for a high."

Isabell nodded her head, not surprised. "Merle'll always be Merle, won't he?"

"Guess so."

Isabell was confused by his tone. "What's goin' on? You okay?"

Daryl shrugged a shoulder. "Things are different now, ya know? They're not like they were even before, before."

"What do you mean?"

"They were like they were when we were home, with Baby Girl. Then they were like they were when she was gone. Then when you were gone." Daryl shook his head, looking at Isabell through his bangs. "Me and Merle were gonna rob the camp, then leave 'em."

Isabell studied Daryl, unfazed by his confession. However, she wanted him to finish his point.

"Then we lost Merle, 'nd found you. Turned everythin' around." Daryl said. "These people became somethin', and it became more than survivin'."

"We wanted to live again." She added, understanding.

Daryl nodded before biting his lip in thought. "I don't think Harley would be proud of the people we were if we let somethin' like this happen."

Isabell looked down at her lap, tucking her fingers under her thighs. "No, she wouldn't. But if this was the only way to keep her safe?" She looked up, meeting Daryl's eyes. "Wouldn't you still do it?"

"I don't know." Daryl pursed his lips, raising his shoulder. "Rick's in charge anyhow."

"Doesn't mean you don't get an opinion." Isabell insisted, to which Daryl gave another shrug. She pushed herself off of the bleachers, tightening the rifle strap she had around her body. Isabell stood in front of him between his legs. "In either situation, I promise I'm standing next to you."

"And Michonne?"

"I don't much like it, but if Rick believes this will be it, then great. If not, I'm willin' to fight for it. Especially if Harley were here." Isabell cleared her throat. "I don't want to do this because I like Michonne, but I don't know that I can stop it from happening if everyone else is on board."

Daryl nodded at her.

"Hey, you got watch for a bit?"

"Sure, where you goin'?"

"Pitstop," Isabell responded. "I'll be back, though."

Daryl turned up one side of his mouth. "I love ya."

Isabell grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him hard. Their lips stayed collided as Isabell contemplated what was running through her head. Isabell pulled away, leaning her forehead on his. "I love you."

Daryl placed a kiss on her forehead before letting her head back towards the cell block.

Instead of making her way towards the main block, Isabell went through the tombs, going unnoticed as she made her way to the block where Daryl had told her Merle was. Rick had already spoken with Merle, and Isabell knew what kind of man he was, just like Merle did. Merle would know that Rick wouldn't go through with handing Michonne over. Hell, Isabell hoped that he wouldn't, but with noon growing closer and closer and there being no take-back, she'd been getting worried.

Isabell had mentioned to Merle that she wanted him to be a better man. She'd wanted him to be like he was when Harley was around. Sacrificing a single person for the good of the group wouldn't have been that, no matter what Daryl or Rick said. Isabell searched the empty room, finding there had been a scuffle. "Fuck," she said to herself. "This isn't what I meant, you asshole." The blonde pat her hips, ensuring she carried her smaller weapons: a handgun in the holster behind her back and a hunter's knife on her side. Isabell hoped she wouldn't need her bow because she didn't have time to go back for it without getting caught.

Isabell found a map on one of the workbenches. Merle knew the way to the meeting place. He'd already left with Michonne in tow. "Fuck," She said again, rechecking the map to know what she'd be going in the right direction.

Isabell snuck out of the prison through where Tyreese's group crept in, not being seen. She hurried after her brother-in-law, jogging for as long as she could before she knew she had to slow down. Isabell had forgotten her water bottle and was cursing herself for it now. In her head, she'd known she'd made significant progress.

Daryl would have realized that Isabell took far too long for a potty break. He would have gone looking for her if no one else had noticed that Michonne and Merle were missing.

Isabell walked for a few more minutes before she heard the sound of a loud car alarm. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, knowing every walker in the small radius would soon be heading for the sound. What if something had gone wrong between Michonne and Merle? Thankfully, that wasn't exactly the case.

Isabell came upon a parking lot. She only saw Michonne tied to a support beam of the overhanging roof. Isabell pulled the hunter's knife she had out of its sheath and made her way stealthily through the walkers, only killing them if she had to. She ran up to the porch of the storefront, cutting the wire holding Michonne to the post.

"Bella?" Merle called, finally spotting the blonde as she rescued Michonne. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Don't fuckin' worry about it," Isabell looked at Michonne, gesturing to the car Merle had been hanging out of. "C'mon."

Michonne hesitated, shaking her head.

Isabell looked around the lot, and then down at Michonne's hands, deciding to leave them tied. "If you don't, you'll die. I'm here trying to make sure that doesn't happen."

Michonne studied Isabell briefly as the blond swung her arm back, stabbing her knife into a walker's face. Finally, Michonne nodded, following Isabell and Merle into the car he'd hotwired.

Isabell took to the backseat, breathing heavily the second all of the car doors were shut.

Merle peeled out of the parking spot, glaring at Isabell through the rearview mirror. "Does my brother know you're here?"

"By now? I'm sure he's figured something out."

Merle scoffed a laugh. "You gonna answer my question about why you're here this time?"

"Nope, I'm just here to help. Plus, I wanna speak with this Governor."

"Trust me, Sister, that won't be happening."

"Well, then, I'm taking whatever chance I can."

Merle scoffed again. "Fine. Get yerself killed."

Isabell sat back in the seat and crossed her arms over her chest.

The other woman in the car glanced back at Isabell from the corner of her eye before stopping on Merle. "So, is this your thing, then?" Michonne asked. "You take out the trash?"

"Don't be so hard on yerself, darlin'." Merle joked.

"The Governor, Rick, anyone who needs their piss bucket emptied, and you come a-runnin'."

Merle chuckled at her statement, trying not to entertain whatever Michonne was trying to play.

"Things are different for your brother."

"That's because Daryl has a heart," Isabella said, smirking at Merle through the mirror.

Merle rolled his eyes, "Yeah, things are different. Rick says jump, and Daryl wants to know how high."

Michonne shook her head. "Mm-mmm. Rick needs him. And respects him. He didn't ask him to do this little job, now, did he?"

"No, 'cause he wants it done."

"You keep tellin' yourself that."Michonne said, nodding at Merle, not falling for his bullshit. "The truth is, this could have been your shot with your skills, a whole new beginning. But you choose to stay on the outside. No one's gonna mourn you, not even Daryl. He's got a new family." Michonne said, snidely leaning back in her seat to get comfortable.

Isabell slunk in her sport. That may have been taking things too far. Daryl loved his brother. Even with how difficult he was, he always stuck up for Merle.

"You keep tryin' to get under my skin, and I'm gonna cut that tongue out."

"No need for empty threats, Merle." Isabell insisted.

"You better keep to yourself, Bella. This got nothin' to do with you."

Isabell raised her hands in surrender, chuckling to herself.

"Your buddy's turnin' you over 'cause he's tryin' to save his own ass." Merle continued talking to Michonne. "You're as much on the outside as I am, girl."

"Maybe. But once the Governor's done with me, at least I won't have to live with myself."

"For the record, neither of you are on the outside. I've rallied for none of this to happen." Isabell promised. "You both are as much a part of the group as anyone else is."

Michonne's head turned away from Isabell, having watched her as she said those words. She looked back towards Merle, recalling something Isabell had told her days ago about Merle being different before. "You said you killed sixteen men since this thing started?" Michonne asked, getting a single nod from Merle. "You ever kill anyone before?"

"No," Merle said simply.

"And how about before Woodbury? Or before you met him?"

Merle didn't say anything, giving Michonne the answer that she needed.

"Huh," she said curiously. "So he saves your life, cleans you up, fed you a line of bullshit. Why would you kill somebody else for him?"

Isabell studied Merle, and she could see his face changing as he thought. "We can all still go back." she'd said quietly. "All of us."

The man shook his head with a quiet laugh. "Ain't happenin'."

Michonne nodded. "The three of us, we can just go back."

Merle shook his head again. "I can't go back. Don't you understand that?" He asked, looking from Michonne to Isabell from the corner of his eye. "I can't."

"Why?"

He surprised both Michonne and Isabell by slamming on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt in the middle of the road. Merle sat in silence for a brief second before turning towards Michonne, holding his prosthetic with the knife attached to her throat. He grabbed her hands, cutting the cord that held her hands together. Merle looked at Michonne seriously. "You go back with them. Get ready for what's next." He leaned across Michonne, opening the passenger door for her. "I got somethin' I gotta do on my own."

Michonne stayed in the car, hesitating before getting out, waiting for Merle to hand her sword back, but got out when he did.

Isabell threw her feet over the middle console and took the seat Michonne was in. She grabbed the handle after Michonne backed away and slammed the door shut.

"What are you doing?"

"Dealing with my brother-in-law." Isabell insisted. "Go back. Tell them we'll be back soon."

Michonne narrowed her eyes, unsure.

"Just do it." Isabell received a single nod in return before Michonne started on her way back. The blonde turned to Merle, staring into his face as he stared right back.

"Get out." The man said, gruffly.

"The fuck you think you were doin'? Taking her when none of us were lookin'?"

"I had to."

"Goddammit, Merle. You're really gonna make all that hard work I did to keep you there worth nothin', aren't you?"

"I was doin' this to save yer sorry asses. I knew Rick wasn't gonna be able to do it." Merle said. "Fuckin' boy scout."

"I knew, too. But this wasn't something you should have decided on your own."

"Well, you weren't doin' nothin' about it, Bella. You needed to take out the trash, so I did it."

"And instead of makin' sure it got picked up, you decided to bring it back 'round?" Isabell shrugged her shoulders, questioning Merle's motives.

Merle pursed his lips, shaking his head and turning to look through the windshield.

"You let Michonne go. Why?" She asked, only waiting a beat before continuing. "You couldn't take it? The weight? Felt like shit by bringing an asshole exactly what he wanted. Or, did you finally realize that bringing him Michonne, an innocent woman, wouldn't have stopped shit."

Merle looked back at her.

Isabell nodded, knowing she was right. "I never met this asshole, but I know his type. I worked retail, remember?"

The man scoffed, not accepting the retaliation.

"If you gave Michonne to the Governor, that wouldn't be it. He wouldn't leave us alone. You know what he wants. Especially now, after the attacks."

"He's not gonna stop until he gets the prison."

"And now, it's not even for protection. It's because he can."

Merle nodded.

Isabell chewed the inside of her mouth, thinking for a moment. "So we need to kill him before he can."

"Yeah?"

"That's what you were going to do, right?" She questioned. "That man pit you and Daryl against each other. He's lying to the people who think he's protecting them. Demands Michonne, who has done nothing but protect her own." Isabell sighed. "That man needs to go."

"And if we die in the process?"

Isabell took a deep breath. She hadn't thought much about dying in a long while. Thinking about Daryl back at the prison, Isabell wasn't sure how he'd be if she died. She didn't want to live like this anymore. Not killing the asshole and letting him attack again, meant that Carl could die, or Lil' AK. Isabell straightened her shoulders. "Then I guess we die. As long as the Governor goes first."